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repoman
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Homosocial.
Jimmy Higgins
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Anybody's guess this year. Parity near the top of the league in '14-'15. You never quite know with the Patriots. They've been playing very well, but I don't have any sense of certainty with them. Denver/Manning are always a huge guess, as Manning has tanked so many times in the playoffs it isn't funny. While I think Carolina can win, a Seattle v Green Bay NFC Championship seems quite likely. The Pats and Denver probably for the AFC. Not exactly stepping out on a limb with those predictions. Denver is definitely susceptible.
Quite a few possible Super Bowl rematches:
Quite a few possible Super Bowl rematches:
- Pats v Green Bay
- Pats v Carolina
- Denver v Green Bay
- Denver v Seattle
- Denver v Dallas (if you go back far enough)
Jimmy Higgins
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Patriots win in one heck of Division playoff game, perhaps the greatest of all-time. Flacco played like Flacco plays in the playoffs. At one point in the first quarter he was 8 for 8 with about 100 yards. I was feeling quite uneasy with what was appearing to be a repeat performance from a few years ago.
But the Patriots who were dominated by the Ravens defense managed to stop being dominated and drew even with Baltimore, before going down a touchdown at halftime.
A similar path followed in the second half with the Ravens adding another score and they were up by two scores. The Patriots changed tactics a bit and used a bit of trickery (is Edelman the highest rated QB in playoff history now, min 1 completion required?) to get back even. The Ravens, down by four were once again driving, but Flacco threw a second INT late in the game and the Ravens, thanks to a thoughtless attempt to return a punt ran out of time.
The calls by the ref seemed about even, though at a point seemed to tilt in Raven's favor. Some real boneheaded taunting penalties taken, what are those players thinking?!
Regardless, Pats scrape by one of the only teams that seem to have New England's number over the past five years.
But the Patriots who were dominated by the Ravens defense managed to stop being dominated and drew even with Baltimore, before going down a touchdown at halftime.
A similar path followed in the second half with the Ravens adding another score and they were up by two scores. The Patriots changed tactics a bit and used a bit of trickery (is Edelman the highest rated QB in playoff history now, min 1 completion required?) to get back even. The Ravens, down by four were once again driving, but Flacco threw a second INT late in the game and the Ravens, thanks to a thoughtless attempt to return a punt ran out of time.
The calls by the ref seemed about even, though at a point seemed to tilt in Raven's favor. Some real boneheaded taunting penalties taken, what are those players thinking?!
Regardless, Pats scrape by one of the only teams that seem to have New England's number over the past five years.
Jimmy Higgins
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Explanation of the incomplete catch in Dallas v Green Bay game.
In order to maintain possession of the ball, a receiver must catch the ball, maintain possession and land both feet in bounds or take two steps (in bounds). If the receiver is falling down, he must also hold onto the ball when he hits the ground. Possession is one or two hands in contact with the ball. But not if the ball hits the ground and moves, but remains in the hand(s) of the receiver, that isn't control at all even though he was still holding onto the ball! All this shit is meaningless if the ball is bouncing all over fuck, but the receiver keeps it from hitting the ground in the end. Hell... the received could be laying on the ground, bouncing the ball on his chest and as long as it doesn't hit the ground... reception when he eventually holds the ball.
What is most important is that the ref that is standing in front of the play is most likely not to call it right in real time because even he is unsure about it. Now, if after he had taken two steps and the ball was punched out, it may be a fumble... or not. Depends on if the referees understand that rule too. The NFL is too damned complicated. Even after watching games for decades, I'm still oblivious to some calls like these. Based on seeing the play, it looks like he never made a football move after getting the ball. He jumps to catch it, takes a couple steps, but is always in the process of falling. Therefore, no reception.
In order to maintain possession of the ball, a receiver must catch the ball, maintain possession and land both feet in bounds or take two steps (in bounds). If the receiver is falling down, he must also hold onto the ball when he hits the ground. Possession is one or two hands in contact with the ball. But not if the ball hits the ground and moves, but remains in the hand(s) of the receiver, that isn't control at all even though he was still holding onto the ball! All this shit is meaningless if the ball is bouncing all over fuck, but the receiver keeps it from hitting the ground in the end. Hell... the received could be laying on the ground, bouncing the ball on his chest and as long as it doesn't hit the ground... reception when he eventually holds the ball.
What is most important is that the ref that is standing in front of the play is most likely not to call it right in real time because even he is unsure about it. Now, if after he had taken two steps and the ball was punched out, it may be a fumble... or not. Depends on if the referees understand that rule too. The NFL is too damned complicated. Even after watching games for decades, I'm still oblivious to some calls like these. Based on seeing the play, it looks like he never made a football move after getting the ball. He jumps to catch it, takes a couple steps, but is always in the process of falling. Therefore, no reception.
TSwizzle
I am unburdened by what has been.
It is a shame that a player makes such a spectacular "catch" just to have it taken away after a couple of minutes of scrutiny based on a technicality. The use of referees on the field is becoming redundant as so many plays are being reviewed now.
hurtinbuckaroo
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Joe was on fire, and I thought he was going to do it again, but he got a bit too greedy on that last play. The Ravens were an incomplete team this year after losing 19 players to injury, and in the end, the better team won (damn).
I don't see the Pats or anyone else beating Seattle, but at least we won't have to watch Denver get embarrassed again.
Major college football reviews all the plays, and it doesn't seem to have slowed down the game or taken away from what the officials do. I'd rather have them get it right. There were two reversals in the Ravens-Pats game, on plays that could have affected the outcome if the incorrect call had not been overturned. As for the (non-)catch, the NFL has clearly defined what a "catch" is, and the receiver did not meet all the criteria, as ridiculous as they might be.
Jimmy Higgins
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The Patriots can always win. I will not say the Patriots will beat Seattle, but I think they can beat Seattle. It comes down to coaching, not players. Coaching won the game for the Patriots in the second half.
Oh gosh, that one fumble call when the Patriot player had two knees down. That was a big *phew* moment.
repoman
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The Calvin Johnson Rule as it is called actually makes sense in this case.
For the Johnson catch it seemed to be punitive for him having started his celebration too early:
1,2 feet down then butt on the ground and hand firmly in his hand.
For the Johnson catch it seemed to be punitive for him having started his celebration too early:
1,2 feet down then butt on the ground and hand firmly in his hand.
Terrell
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Dan Pastorini To Mike Renfro. January 6, 1980, AFC Championship. Why the original version of the Replay rule came into being.
[video]http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/0ap2000000113873/Top-Ten-Controversial-Calls-Renfro-s-catch[/video]
Why Replay came back, in the Coaches Challenge style.
http://www.newsday.com/from-the-archives-nfl-owners-vote-to-bring-back-replay-1.6971329
Bert Emanuel, and the origin of the rule in question from Sunday.
[video]http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/0ap2000000113876/Top-Ten-Controversial-Calls-Burt-Emanuel-s-catch[/video]
[video]http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/0ap2000000113873/Top-Ten-Controversial-Calls-Renfro-s-catch[/video]
Why Replay came back, in the Coaches Challenge style.
http://www.newsday.com/from-the-archives-nfl-owners-vote-to-bring-back-replay-1.6971329
Bert Emanuel, and the origin of the rule in question from Sunday.
[video]http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/0ap2000000113876/Top-Ten-Controversial-Calls-Burt-Emanuel-s-catch[/video]
Jimmy Higgins
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Pretty close to a rematch from 97, but Green Bay forgot how to play defense for 2 minutes and that was that. Pats v Seahawks for all the marbles in two weeks. I know the Pats really want this one. This would etch them as potentially better than San Fran was in the 80s, and certainly no lower than equal.
Rained a lot in both games. We'll see how they fair in the Phoenix fair weather in the Super Bowl. I really like the Patriots chances here. The stats show it should be close, but Belichick and the coaching staff have been coaching the playoffs very very well. So either their spying technology is really good, or they are adapting to what they are facing. I speak more of the Baltimore game than the Indy game, of which Indy was never in it.
Seattle should be real tough, but for some reason I see the Pats beating them relatively easily.
Rained a lot in both games. We'll see how they fair in the Phoenix fair weather in the Super Bowl. I really like the Patriots chances here. The stats show it should be close, but Belichick and the coaching staff have been coaching the playoffs very very well. So either their spying technology is really good, or they are adapting to what they are facing. I speak more of the Baltimore game than the Indy game, of which Indy was never in it.
Seattle should be real tough, but for some reason I see the Pats beating them relatively easily.
Jimmy Higgins
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Pats have been in too many good Super Bowls, I'd like them to blowout a team just once to take the edge off.
Nothing against the Seahawks, but I'd like to go into the half thinking... well, the Patriots would really have to blow it like Green Bay to lose this one.
hurtinbuckaroo
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Bill Belichick throws Tom Brady under the bus in this morning's press conference. DeflateGate isn't going to go away.
Jimmy Higgins
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The NFL is sucking with this investigation. They are releasing no details, no timeline. There is so much speculation here.
When did the officials find out?
Were the balls removed from play?
Who was informed on the Patriots team about the balls?
Did they check Indy's balls?
Who complained about the balls?
If this is a big deal, why is the penalty so relatively minor?
And of course the most important question, why the fuck isn't there just an official set of balls supplied by the referees in the first place?! Imagine baseball teams supplying the balls!
When did the officials find out?
Were the balls removed from play?
Who was informed on the Patriots team about the balls?
Did they check Indy's balls?
Who complained about the balls?
If this is a big deal, why is the penalty so relatively minor?
And of course the most important question, why the fuck isn't there just an official set of balls supplied by the referees in the first place?! Imagine baseball teams supplying the balls!
Derec
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Derec
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Well this scheme wouldn't work in a sport like basketball (or real, association, football for that matter) where you change possession all the time. You need round based offense-defense segments for it to work.
So that makes your question even more pertinent. Why isn't NFL providing official "balls"?
Terrell
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Good question, they have done this with the "K" balls used on kicking plays since 1999.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2726072